Redemption

A high tech executive is thrown into turmoil as haunting images from an unknown past intrude into her life. A desperate trip to a psychic, unleashes a series of past lives that bring her face-to-face with a mysterious man who has followed her throughout time. More

The year is 2045. Ann, a high-powered executive, working in an Artificial Intelligence International, is at the pinnacle of success. That is, until strange and elusive images begin to haunt her nights, slowly spilling into her days.

The robotic companion she created leads her to a startling conclusion…these disturbing images may be whispers and screams from her past lives.

With her scientific background, Ann is skeptical, but a visit to an ancient psychic plunges her into a cruel and primitive world before recorded time. She begins to experience this brutal landscape through her own eyes, even feeling the pain of childbirth and the savage murder of her primordial companion.

Shaken by the image, Ann comes face-to-face with Michael, a handsome, mysterious stranger who seems to know far more than he should about Ann’s harrowing mental state.

Fearing she is losing her grip on reality, Ann slips further into her nightmare world, interacting with Roman Emperor Caligula, Louis XIV and a Soviet spy syndicate during World War II.

Only the mysterious Michael holds the stunning truth that will save Ann from her visions, and propel her to an even more amazing future.

Raised in an atheistic environment, I was one of many who fell asleep at the first page of the Bible. I never had a hope to understand this Holy book until I experienced something in my life, which I have come to call my Spiritual Choice.

My Spiritual Choice…

Years ago I realized that the corporate luxury train, in which I was comfortably riding, was taking me in a direction that I did not want to go. Getting off of this train at my own risk and expense was very hard, but I jumped off. But nothing completely disappears, and in my case, the tangibles (prestige, security, wealth and social status) were replaced by an intangible: the ability to see a Spiritual Choice.

The realization first came to me from movies. The spiritual choices of Dracula, Scarface, and the story of Abraham and Jesus became transparent to me. This revelation led me to a fascinating conclusion: a spiritual choice is a shortcut to “upgrade” a human’s consciousness. My enlightening journey continued. I began to see things that I had never seen before. And I added a new word to my personal vocabulary—vision. I realized that vision is a direct product of Consciousness, and that Consciousness is a subject of both evolution and involution. However, the physical world was still calling for me. I was constantly looking for a new project in which to implement my skills and abilities; one that I had never done before.

One day, while walking in the forest, I suddenly had an awesome idea: I would make afeature movie. The idea was totally absurd; I had never had any interest in film production, but the idea stuck with me, and gave me the two things that I needed the most: hope, and a direction. But before I could make a movie I needed a complete story. This is why I decided to write the novel.

Can you further elaborate on spiritual choice and how it relates to your book?

My Spiritual Philosophy involves the concept of Spiritual Choice. I see Spiritual Choice as a powerful tool to upgrade our consciousness within a relatively short time period. During this transformation we absorb a different spectrum of vibrations than we do during merely theoretical spiritual exercises and practices.In Redemption, the heroine experiences five Spiritual Choices in five different lives. Each time, she chooses a spiritual path towards LIGHT.

Reviews

Review by:
Georgia Barrett
on Aug. 24, 2016 :
(no rating)
‘Birth is not a beginning. Death is not an end.’

This novel is a ‘supernatural time-travelling thriller with sci-fi and metaphysics,’ but I think that it is much more than that. This book asks some important questions about life, death, reincarnation, God and the nature of sacrifice, but it does so in a sensitive and entertaining way, with the help of many characters and a great story.

‘Redemption’ is a fast-paced thriller with an unorthodox structure. The book is divided into three parts but also spans seven different locations, from Chicago in the year 2045, to the Stone Age, to Imperial Rome, pre-Revolution Paris and 1940s Russia. The novel follows Ann, a high-powered, gorgeous, corporate success story, as she slowly discovers her spiritual side with the help of Rob, her AI virtual assistant, and a psychic.

What I liked most about this novel was the beautiful amount of detail. Each exploration of Ann’s past lives was skilfully realised and historically accurate. At the same time, each past life was a self-contained adventure, with plenty of tension, romance and excitement. These brief forays into Ann’s life stream went on to impact her current life in 21st Century Chicago, and helped her to discover more about herself, such as her hidden yearning for love. This is a character-driven and very well written novel, with fast flowing prose and subtle descriptions.

This book is a very ponderous read that provides plenty of food for thought. I loved watching how each of the intertwining stories connected with Ann, and revealed new truths, such as the fundamental loneliness of her modern existence. The lessons in this book are ones that we can all take and consider.

This book is an entertaining read filled with warmth and sensitivity. I loved the originality of Lo’s writing: from the eye-opening technology of Ann’s futuristic Chicago, to the simple words and deeper meanings of Mi’s Stone Age world. This novel gently probes questions that trouble us all, such as God, religion, free will, reincarnation and the true meaning of redemption.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys an entertaining read that will also leave you thinking days after you’ve finished.

(reviewed 9 days after purchase)

Review by:
Bthiede
on July 20, 2016 :
Books of a Sci-Fi nature can all too often read in a very superficial way. The re-imagined world can often form a barrier and a feeling of detachment between the reader and the characters in the book. Redemption is very much above that in its main storyline. The reader follows Ann, a successful business woman who works for a technology development company, and becomes quickly encapsulated by the personal struggles which she faces due to her developing nightmares and visions of past life. The story has some interesting underlying connotations of spirituality and free will vs. determinism debate; a vibe of existential questioning is prominent throughout the book. What I really enjoy about the presentation of religious dogmas in this book is that they are not presented simply from a typically Christianocentric perspective, but rather, they give the illusion of uncovering as the story progresses.
I have already mentioned Ann but as I progressed through the consequent chapters it became apparent that Rob, the AI Assistant, was just sublime. Rob is a character of wit with a colourful personality. The exchanges between Rob and Ann are very entertaining and insightful. This is not least due to the fact that both characters are very well constructed. On the other hand, one does wish that the characters of Michael and Nina had been given slightly more centre stage at times and allowed them to flourish slightly. Nevertheless, this does not disturb the flow of the story and is only perhaps just food for thought.
“So what’s it going to be? The choice is yours.” To me, this is the central message of the whole book and a conclusion that the character herself comes to near the end of the story. The ideology of redemption through reincarnation is very well set up throughout the text and developed through the narrative. The ideas are not forced, as can often be the case in this genre, the seed of spiritual realisation is planted in the beginning of the story and grows as the narrative furthers. Perhaps the only let down to the flow of the narrative is the slightly superficial way in which the historical visions read in comparison with the main body of the story. It just feels slightly too disengaging at times and over dramatised. However, that is quickly reinstated as the main storyline of Ann returns.
Finally, Redemption by Jacklyn A. Lo is a great read. I swallowed it up very quickly and that not only demonstrates how engaging the writing style is but above all how accessible this story is, to both fans of and disinterested parties when it comes to Sci-Fi books. I would certainly recommend.

(reviewed 2 days after purchase)

Review by:
Akshay Hattiholi
on July 15, 2016 :
A profound book requiring deeper thought into the idea that we live many different lives. The characters are well-developed, and the story is engaging and fun. Ann has a unique life, her fifth overall, and unknowingly has to make sacrifices for the highest intangible values on the path within spiritual eternity. This is her redemption. I can relate these values to life today, in that no matter where you live or who you are, there are more important things than material gains, while still pursuing love, success, and fulfillment. This story will also take you to some challenging times in our history and really help one to reflect. Great job by the author, Jacklyn!

“Redemption” is a intriguingly, enchanting supernatural sci-fi thriller that keeps the reader on edge as the protagonist “Ann” embarks upon a journey into unknown realms to search for the truth veiled within a troubled past.
The reader is taken on a journey through time starting from Chicago in the year 2045, to the Stone Age, 1st Century A.D in Rome, 17th century France, the Russia of 1941 and then finally heaven, where Ann was destined to be.
From what began as a nightmare, Ann is intrigued to know the meaning of the frequent nightmares that haunt her, despite her seemingly “perfect” but lonely life, she seeks the help of a psychic and unlocks the secrets of her past, only to know that in each life she had a cause, a purpose, for which she became a part of the cycle of birth and death and that sole purpose was of redemption.
Being an atheist, Ann never believed in God or the bible, but the Spiral of Evolution was given to her to show her own sacred path within Spiritual Eternity and for her to seek her true calling.
Redemption is an intricately weaved tale that is first introduced as a sci-fi thriller, involving time travelling and metaphysics, which later unrolls into a roller coaster ride of a woman travelling through the sands of time, seeking the truth veiled within her tumultuous past and finally attaining redemption by embracing her inner spirituality.
Exhilarating, engrossing and fascinating, “Redemption” will keep you on your toes and leave you begging for more even if you are not a fan of sci-fi.

This novel is recommendable for anyone who is looking for inspirational women’s fiction with historical and sci-fi elements.

The novel is well-written without grammatical or formatting errors.

The story is about a woman in her early 30-tees – Ann, who lives in 2045, Chicago, USA.
Ann is experiencing enlightenment, but she is not aware of it.

To crack the puzzle she supposed to go through awesome experiences - who she was in her past lives. Each of her previous existences contains a mystery of her life and her death.

On the way to her redemption she is getting a support by her girlfriend Nina, AI pal Rob and a handsome mysterious stranger, who is, in fact, a higher hierarchy angel.

The end is outstanding – the supernatural man is introducing a risk-free environment to Ann, which is called HEAVEN.

(reviewed 3 days after purchase)

Review by:
skollunger
on July 12, 2016 :
Limbo, Time Travel, and Spiritual Awakening All In One

Redemption is a unique novel that blends sci-fi, history and philosophy; a supernatural, spiritual, romance, sci-fi, and speculative fiction adventure.
The story starts in the future but the reader eventually goes on a journey through different kinds of lifetimes.
The main character, Ann, is from the year 2045 and works for an AI department. She enjoys her work and bustling social life, though she feels that something is missing in her life.
At the beginning of the novel, Ann is an atheist, however an open minded curious one and as the story unfolds, she begins to be more interested in spiritual matters.
I truly liked the philosophy behind the story, the idea of time-travel and multiple dimensions, and a surprising twist in the end-- all makes for a superb book!
It’s an inner journey, a spiritual quest for redemption through recognizing values in life such as freedom, love, courage peace and hope.
I loved that the story is in fact set in the future and past and not in the present, it's a refreshing approach.
However, the bar to reaching redemption is set so high that I'm quite sure I'd be stuck in Limbo, or Clapham, or Mean Street forever.
I also enjoyed the idea of the artificial soul, the strongest character in the book and the real 'romantic' lead and the final “death” and arrival at station Nirvana.

As to the short-life stories set up in the different historical time periods, they are very amusing both standing as independent reads and as a well integrated part of the overall theme. This is a great novel with a positive ending and a strong romance genre.

If you love reading sci-fi, quests of any manner, Redemption is a must read. Do not miss out on this spiritual awakening of Ann and face the consequences of limbo.

(reviewed 2 days after purchase)

Review by:
Faiqa Babar
on July 11, 2016 :
Redemption is a much more than a thought-provoking novel!

Redemption novel by Jacklyn A. Lo is a great mix of different genres like sci-fi, history, romance and spiritual.

I liked how Jacklyn has blended the concepts of reincarnation, time travel and technology to make up the whole plot of the novel. The novel was engaging right from the very first page. The language is simple, which makes it easy to read for non-native English-speakers too.

The writer has a bright imagination and strong writing skills, which made me feel that if I have been seeing the adventures of the protagonist with my own eyes.

The main attraction to me was Ann - the main character, who was a brilliant engineer. A smart, confident woman, who was working in an advanced Artificial Intelligence environment in 2045 (I am an engineer myself so I was particularly interested in her life).
Ann had a series of time travelling experiences where she slips into her past four lives, all of them so different and so amazing! I admired all hard choices, which Ann did in her past (and present) I couldn't stop myself from the tears running from my eyes feeling her sacrifices.

I liked an ongoing discussion, throughout the novel, about freedom and love, free will and fate, spiritual choices and God between Ann and his incredibly cute and smart robotic assistant Rob.

Beside Ann, other characters played their role meaningfully in her life, like her friend man-eating Nina, her romantic interest Michael and the weird Psychic who helps her to drift into her past lives.
Additionally, I’d say, the romantic genre in the novel dominates slightly than sci-fi genre.

Overall, it’s a great read. I definitely liked all the technology, spiritualism, mysticism and romanticism in the novel. As for her debut novel, Jacklyn did an amazing job. I’ll definitely follow her works in the future.

Jacklyn Lo's Redemption follows the life-changing and surreal journey of a successful executive as she realizes that material gain simply isn't what life was meant to be all about. It is 2045 and Ann, a high-powered AI industry executive, is struggling to find the missing piece in her life. A series of vivid recollections from various times in history, an enchanting and mysterious stranger, and a psychic woman may hold the key to Ann's journey to find the truth.

Melding different genres is a difficult task for any author. Each aspect must draw upon the others and come together to create a cohesive narrative that the reader can follow. Redemption manages to juggle science fiction, metaphysical, and romance aspects of the story while staying on course and showing how Ann's viewpoints and perspectives change with every event that she encounters. Ann's sojourns into history are well-researched and compelling, the details manage to portray to the reader how vividly Ann must be experiencing each historical age.

Redemption is a modern day Divine Comedy, where each experience propels the character towards enlightenment, and one that incorporates various New Age themes to craft a story that not only entertains the reader but also manages to impart a different perspective to living and looking at life. Ann as a protagonist is easy to like and identify with, her struggles all too quickly become the reader's own. And as she finally realizes the truth, the reader also gets to enjoy the unexpected ending that Redemption offers.

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by:
May Sage
on Sep. 8, 2015 :
I've read Redemption a while ago and it was a good solid story - then I heard it had been re edited and I decided to give it a try...
Oh my god. Like, seriously. It's slow, sensual, gripping, meaningful and the writing matches the amazing worlds we travel with Ann.
I don't read many time traveling story, let alone serious metaphysical stuff; which is why I can say for a fact: this book will please any reader - there's something for every taste, from romance, to action and historical revisits. Loving it!

Review by:
Peterpiazza
on July 30, 2015 :
Redemption is a marvelous introduction to its author, Jacklyn Lo. It stands as her debut novel, and leaves the reader demanding she grace us with further literary projects.

Although the book is set in the future, and technology is advanced beyond what we now experience, Ms. Lo successfully captures the timeless essence of life as she aptly
retells the age old story of the soul on its tumultuous journey to spiritual completion and fulfillment, via the rounds of birth and death known as reincarnation.

The book comprises a series of stories, but they are all the stories of a single soul on its voyage through variegated human incarnations. The concept of reincarnation, so aptly portrayed in this wonderful novel, is a concept firmly entrenched in many of the worlds major religions, as well as a vast array of the worlds burgeoning population.

Jacklyn Lo skillfully portrays with incredible detail some of the many lives one such soul recounts, all from her current, futuristic life set in 2045. While recalling each of these past lives, the author generously and creatively illustrates the joys and sufferings, the ups and downs, invariably encountered in each incarnation that is taken. She abundantly demonstrates how the experiences of one life serve to propel the soul into the next human form.

Adding even more richness, texture and interest to this novel, is the fact that Redemption extends into more than one genre. It is most assuredly a novel of high quality Visionary Fiction. However, there are also components of this novel that clearly fall within the genre of Romance. As such, Redemption holds abiding value to a broad cross-section of readers, regardless of where they are currently stationed with respect to matters of the spirit. The book appeals to those inclined towards Divine Love as well as human love.

Read Redemption! You won't be disappointed. Permit yourself to become absorbed in its unfolding, and allow it to assist you in pondering what you may have endured throughout centuries past, all of which has brought you to this present moment. Then, in the present moment, let Redemption serve as a guide in actualizing your highest transcendent being as bursting forth towards the fullness of expression.
Peter A. Piazzaq

(reviewed 86 days after purchase)

Review by:
Tim2015
on April 23, 2015 :
This is an enjoyable sci-fi / philosophical novel, taking the reader to the past and future through a series of past live. Starting in a future Chicago the main character questions her existence. Time travel and multiple dimensions are used as plot devices which works well for the story. What is the purpose of life is the overall question, which is answered at the end in a surprising way. An interesting read.

(reviewed 20 days after purchase)

Review by:
Richard Bunning
on March 26, 2015 :
This has elements from a mix of genres; including supernatural, spiritual, romance, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. Overall, it is well written and very entertaining. I particularly enjoyed reading this as a series of short-stories, being only disappointed with the lack of connect between the science fiction, the regressive themes, and the end of the book.
The past lives are all exciting reads, though saddled with my common complaint that it is funny how more often than not past life memories are of infamous and famous events and times, rather than of ordinary lives. This makes for good entertainment, whilst reducing plot 'credibility'.
A-Lo, if this is 'future biography', certainly gets the Halo. However, the bar to reaching redemption is set so high that I'm quite sure I'd be stuck in Limbo, or Clapham, or Mean Street forever. Perhaps like most superb destinations the already resident wish to stop 'Heaven' getting too crowded. Only special friends of Michael may here enter. So if you want to get into this exclusive club you had better be pretty damn superhuman first.
This is a good read with a positive ending, which probably tips the book more into the romance genre than any other. There aren't any original plot elements here not that that is of much consequence except to those that devour books. There are signs enough that Lo is capable of writing more ambitious books, so she is an author I'll follow. I would like the opening and closing elements to be integrated better- especially in tying in the science fiction artificial soul, the strongest character in the book and the real 'romantic' lead, with final death and arrival at station Nirvana. As to the short-life stories, they are very entertaining both standing as independent reads and as a part of the overall theme. Written in clear and simple style, this is a very easy book to get into.

***I RECEIVED A COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST AND UNBIASED REVIEW***

This is, simply put, a great read. "REDEMPTION" is an apt title for the main plot of this story. Author Jacklyn Lo does a marvelous job of setting up her story and characters. I could picture myself as the main character which made it easy to relate to my own life. There is a fresh perspective about our journey of life and Ms.Lo does great balancing action, adventure, history, mystery, tragedy and romance. The plot has sub-plots that would make good books themselves. She did a lot of research to write this book. Ms. Lo could write several novels with the same story line and each would be unique to the main character. One problem was a lack of editing, not a lot but enough to notice which made the book a 4 instead of 5 for me. Another was that I really did not see this as sci-fi time travel. Still, I just couldn't put it down.bhai

The characters are developed well and each has a purpose that becomes clear. Again, you will know someone just like each character. I went from laughter to tears as I followed one womans life journey. It made me wonder what I would find in my life. I would love the opportunity to findout! I don't like spoiler reviews so you will have to read this book to find out the rest. I was completely surprised by the ending and would have liked a little more explanation of things which also contributed to the 4 stars.

Overall this is a book worth reading. You will find it thought provokin, I am sure. I can happily recommend this book to readers that enjoy looking at all the possibilities life has to offer. Your fate may be easier to change than you think. KUDOS Ms. Lo on a tale well told.

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by:
Iva Kenaz
on Feb. 12, 2015 :
Redemption is a unique novel that blends sci-fi, history and philosophy. The story starts in the future but the reader eventually goes on a journey through different time periods in the past, from Stone Age to the Second World War, as the main character delves into various lifetimes of experiences.

The heroine, Ann is from the year 2045 and works for an AI department. She enjoys her work and bustling social life, though she feels that something is missing in her life, particularly because of a repetitive anxious dream about a spiral circling her in its ceaseless course. At the beginning of the novel, Ann is an atheist, however an open minded curious one and as the story unfolds, she begins to be more interested in faith and spiritual matters.

I found the story so interesting that I could hardly put it down. I identified with the main character and particularly enjoyed her relationship with her AI assistant, Rob who is not only a marvellously engineered program, but also her friend with whom she can philosophize about free will and God. I enjoyed the metaphor of us being gods of the artificial intelligence and its correlation to seeking our own creator.

Overall, I liked the philosophy behind the story, the idea of time-travel and multi dimensions, and the surprising twist in the end, which truly amused me.
It’s an inner journey, a spiritual quest for redemption through recognizing values in life such as freedom, love, courage and peace. I loved that the story is in fact set in the future and past and not in the present, it's a refreshing approach.

If you like mysticism, spirituality and visionary fiction, then this is really worth reading!

Review by:
Dewey Dempsey
on Jan. 30, 2015 :
Ann presents five different facets of her character, four of them in recalled past lives. The main timeline’s style is faintly reminiscent of J. D. Robb. In that timeline there are allusions that Ann is a brilliant engineer, but we only see her as a marketing director and, reluctant, seeker of truth and spiritual knowledge. Her mentors are a psychic and an EA, an artificial intelligence with emotions and a spiritual belief system. The mysterious Michael is not clearly a mentor but is instrumental in her growth.

The book is an attempt to synthesize Christianity with karma and reincarnation. In order to reach Heaven, or Nirvana, Ann’s lives have to exhibit Hope, Freedom, Love, Courage and Peace. Along the way Ann keeps confronting the duality of Free Will vs. Fate/

I found the most interesting past life to be the one Ann lived as a priest of Isis in Caligula’s Rome.

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by:
Ica Iova
on Jan. 25, 2015 :
(no rating)
EVERYONE DIES…But what if death isn’t the end? What if it is simply a link in a reincarnation chain that spans the centuries and millennia? What if all of us are trapped in an endless cycle of lives, doomed to suffer and die over and over again? Wouldn’t you want to break free?
That’s how the book starts and these are questions you’ll ask yourself after you finish this book.
A thought-provoking plot, especially if you like sci-fi. However, this book is so much more. It take you from the future deep into the dark stone ages and back, weaving science fiction into history. The history details are well researched and the end took me by surprize. Well done!

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by:
Joannes Rhino
on Jan. 21, 2015 :
Redemption is an sci-fi/adventure reading. When I say sci-fi, that doesn't mean full of complicated information that will confuse readers. The language is simple, and that makes the readers continue reading without getting bored. The emotions of the characters are so well that I can feel them personally. The twists and turns are something that I didn't see them coming. Quite an entertain reading! Good adventure story! Very imaginative!

(reviewed the day of purchase)

Review by:
S.M.R. Saia
on Jan. 16, 2015 :
Redemption is a fascinating and epic journey into human history, seen through the eyes of a woman who is suddenly stirred to ask, what is the purpose of life? By the time you reach its surprising conclusion you’ll be asking questions about your motives and values that you never thought to ask before. The historical sequences, which make up the bulk of the book, are particularly compelling, and were my favorite part. That said, Lo paints a fascinating modern world dominated by a very imaginative technology, all the while convincing the reader that no matter how technologically advanced we may become, humans of all times―acting at their best―share qualities that make technology irrelevant. This was definitely a thought-provoking book.